These are just a sampling of the features of the best visitor check-in apps. Keeping you on task while prioritizing your visitor’s time, a visitor registration app is the jack of all trades.

You might think something so sophisticated would be a headache to implement, but a visitor registration app can be set up for free, in just minutes, regardless of your tech skills. All that’s required is a tablet computer and a mount to secure it and make it highly visible when your guests arrive. Your visitor management system can be mounted on a desktop stand, floor stand kiosk, or even on the wall.

The question we are often asked is… Which tablet will work best for our Greetly visitor sign-in app? Here are some advantages of running your visitor registration app on Apple’s iPad devices versus Google’s Android operating system.

Advantages of an iPad Receptionist

Tech Leader: Apple continues to push the envelope with the iPad line; they are constantly releasing new technologies and advanced capabilities. It is one of the fastest tablets on the market, and even exceeds many laptops in performance ability. iPad offers high touch technology in a package that’s easy for the average person to use. Because of this, Apple is a tablet computing market leader, with over 350 million iPad tablets sold since 2010.

Highly Standardized: Those hundreds of millions of tablets sold are across a very small number of SKUs, shapes and device sizes. And they all run the same operating system, Apple’s iOS, which is built on the premise of a simple user interface. And buttons are in the same place from model to model. These make iPads familiar and easy to operate, even for those who generally do not use Apple products. As iOS is a closed operating system and with a closely controlled iTunes app store, there is less risk of viruses, malware, spyware or corruption on anything that you download.

More Check-In App Hardware Options: Thanks to the standardization, there are countless floor stand, desktop and wall mount hardware options to support your sign-in kiosk. You will surely find something perfect for your lobby environment. And they are generally lower priced to their Android counterparts. When you add the pieces and parts, an iPad-based hardware package may be cost competitive to an Android alternative. This is also important if you require multiple check-in kiosks due to a busy reception area or multiple visitor entry points or floors.

Resale Value: Apple’s appeal is only growing, making the iPad a strong investment. With options for resale, trade-in, or upgrade, they make it easy to scale your visitor management system. The Apple support team, both online and in-store, is a commodity that also adds value to your business, in that they keep your iPad, and thereby your visitor registration app, running smoothly.

Advantages of an Android Reception Tablet

Supports Multiple Stores: While the iPad plays nicely with Apple devices, Androids play nicely with others too. The Android supports multiple app stores, such as Google, Amazon, and Samsung, giving you more options for downloading and running your apps. Android is also more customizable, allowing you to get more creative and personalized to fit your organization and brand.

More App Availability and Connectivity: With Android’s more open operating system comes a wider array of options. Androidscreens are available in excess of 20″, for a highly visible visitor management app kiosk. Your visitor registration app will be prominently displayed, and legible to all your viewers. Unlike iPad, Android is a general name for a multitude of devices, with different specs, sizes and colors from a variety of different manufacturers. This gives you more affordable options for running your visitor registration app.

Bigger Bang for the Buck: More hardware manufacturers building for Google’s Android platform means more competition. And that means a lower purchase price for most Android tablets. Although, as noted above, you also need a mount to secure your device. Make sure to compare the total cost of ownership.

Market Leader: While Apple gets a lot of the hype, Android currently holds more of the market share. More smartphones users own Android devices than iPhones, and PC Magazine recently ranked Amazon Fire tablets above the iPad for 2018, a trend that is gaining traction.

Both tablet hardware options will successfully run the best visitor registration apps like Greetly. And given the amazing computing power of these devices, and the massive feature set of modern visitor sign-in apps, in comparison to the low cost, you will surely save money and increase productivity.

Android Kiosk Changes By Google

Google’s Chrome OS is already a fine operating system for business installations like kiosks and workstations, and Google’s big reveal of Android support for Kiosk Apps, along with a number of improvements to device management and administration, are poised to make it even better once Chrome Version 57 hits. The

Android Kiosk Software New Release of KioWare for Android

KioWare has a new release of KioWare for Android (version 3.15). Also they have also released a new KioCall Android App (available in the Google Play Store) for use on Android phones and tablets – it allows for sending and receiving calls to/from kiosks or other devices running KioCall.

Summary:

Version 3.15 of KioWare for Android (Lite, Basic, & Full with Kiosk Management) has added a number of new features and UI improvements including password protection options for the configuration tool, an updated Android SDK (Version 26), ability to add superuser permissions when provisioning, and more. Using the KioCall Video Conferencing app (from KioWare), KioWare for Android can now accept incoming calls while in Attract mode. A new battery management tool is also available (for use with the ArmorActive Optica Pro LED™.)

Additionally, the KioCall videoconferencing app, previously available only for use on Windows devices, is now available as an Android app for use on Android phones and tablets.

Kiosk Software Version 3.13 of KioWare for Android is now available. New Guided Setup options have been added to make it easier to create a custom start page, set up your device to play videos, and add a start page for use with KioCall video conferencing. KioWare has also added a number of features to improve the use of wireless networks. KioWare for Android also adds the ability to create a reboot schedule for Samsung devices running KNOX.

September 2017, York, PA – Analytical Design Solutions Inc. (ADSI) has released a new version of KioWare for Android kiosk software allowing users to create a custom start page and improving the wireless network experience, as well as other changes and additions.

Version 3.13 of KioWare for Android (Lite, Basic, & Full with Kiosk Management) has added new options to the Guided Setup tool. This tool (first available in version 3.12) helps new users quickly and easily configure KioWare. In Version 3.13, the Guided Setup wizard has added options to select the type of deployment they will be needing from additional options including start page creation, video player set up, and KioCall video conferencing portal customization.

Improved Usage and Management of Wireless Networks

KioWare for Android 3.13 has also added features to improve the use of wireless networks on your kiosks. KioWare for Android allows for setting up a Wi-Fi access point list, automatically connecting to networks in the list when KioWare starts, saving networks to the list, and managing existing access points. A Wi-Fi indicator button is also now an option for use with the custom toolbar. This shows the strength and connectivity of the Wi-Fi network, and, optionally, the network name.

Additional new features for KioWare for Android (Lite, Basic, Full with Kiosk Management)

Click for full size image

New guided setup options include:

Custom start page setup – If you don’t have your own web content, you can now create a custom start page with custom buttons to navigate to URLs, open apps, or make calls with KioCall.

Video player setup – Creates a portal page with buttons that will show full screen video content.

KioCall portal creation – Creates a portal page with buttons for making calls with KioCall.

New Wi-Fi access and control features include:

The ability to automatically connect to networks in the list when KioWare starts.

The ability to save networks in the list.

The addition of an option to clear known Wi-Fi access points.

The ability to create a Wi-Fi indicator toolbar button:

Shows the strength and connectivity of the Wi-Fi network.

Indicates the network name (SSID) when you click the button.

Support for Android 8.0 (Oreo™)

Web pages can now receive JavaScript events when the Wi-Fi status changes.

End users can now control screen brightness:

An option has been added to create a toolbar button to allow kiosk users to control the screen brightness.

JavaScript functions can also now be used to control the brightness from web pages.

Via the addition of a JavaScript long click event, web pages can now respond to long clicks on the screen.

Using Samsung KNOX and the KioWare Samsung Support App, Samsung devices with KNOX enabled can reboot the device on a schedule.

KioWare can now be configured to set PDFs to display within a current tab or a new tab.

Support has been updated for Star Micronics Printers.

KioWare Basic for Android and KioWare Full for Android now support these additional Star Micronics Printer Models: TSP100U/ECO, TSP100GT, BSC10, TSP-L10, SM-S210i/230i and the mPOP mobile printer.

Licensing KioWare for Android

A license is needed for each deployed kiosk running KioWare for Android. Quantity pricing is available. Annual support and maintenance is recommended and current support is required in order to upgrade. View a full description of features for this and other versions of the KioWare product line.

All of these products are available as a free trial download. Existing clients have the ability to upgrade.

KioWare has been providing OS, desktop, and browser lockdown security for the kiosk and self-service industry since 2001 and Android software since 2012.

Add KioCall Video Conferencing to your KioWare for Android Kiosks

KioWare for Android (version 3.11 and newer) support KioCall Video Conferencing Kiosks. KioCall is available as an annual subscription and allows for queue calling, kiosk to kiosk calling, and group calling.

Licensing KioWare for Android

A license is needed for each deployed kiosk running KioWare for Android. Quantity pricing is available. Annual support and maintenance is recommended and current support is required in order to upgrade. View a full description of features for this and other versions of the KioWare product line.

Kiosk Software KioWare for Android

Version 3.7 of KioWare for Android is now available. The latest release of KioWare for Android continues to support EMV certified mobile payments via Credit Call’s newest release of the mPOS CardEaseMobile framework (1.11). KioWare for Android now also supports devices providing detection of user presence.

Analytical Design Solutions Inc. (ADSI) has released a new version of their KioWare for Android software products.

All KioWare products can be used to secure mobile devices such as tablets, desktops, and smartphones running Android or Windows Operating Systems. KioWare kiosk software products lock down your device into kiosk mode, which secures the overall operating system, home screen and usage of applications.

Version 3.7 of KioWare for Android (Lite, Basic, & Full with Server) has added a new simple attract screen looper to allow customers to easily add attract screens via the configuration tool. The attract screen is also now available in Single App Mode. The configuration tool now also enables user to set the battery indicator display to on or off.

The latest version of KioWare Basic for Android and KioWare Full for Android has also updated support for EMV certified via Credit Call’s mPOS CardEaseMobile framework to version 1.11. Using Miura PINPads and KioWare for Android, a complete end-to-end, EMV compliant and P2PE enabled payment solution is available. For a full device list, visit our website.

Users of KioWare for Android should update their version of KioWare to version 3.7. Current support is required in order to update.

KioWare has been providing OS, desktop, and browser lockdown security for the kiosk and self-service industry since 2001. You can easily download the fully functioning free trial directly from Google Play.

Kiosk Software – New KioWare for Android Update 3.7 was last modified: April 4th, 2016 by News Editor

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